Collegiate Times

Image: 2012-10-10 21:59:06

In the 12 months from Fall 2010 to Fall 2011, the number of applications to graduate programs in the United States increased, while the overall number of new enrollments decreased. 

The study, completed by the Council of Graduate Schools, is a part of a decade-long study.

The survey was sent to almost 800 schools, more than 600 of which responded. The survey is the sole collector of data on first-time and total graduate enrollment by field. 

The council, based in Washington D.C., serves to advance graduate education and promote competition amongst U.S. schools and those abroad.

The vice president and dean of Virginia Tech Graduate Education, Karen DePauw, said that rising international competition for students is a good thing, and could be a factor in the fact that national enrollment numbers are decreasing even though application numbers have risen.

“Overall, our applications increased and our international enrollment increased, too.  In contrast to the larger numbers, our overall enrollment increased, as well,” DePauw said.  “What happened with us is that our decrease in domestic students wasn’t overcome by in the increase in international students.”

Tech’s graduate student body consists of 26 percent international students.

“Of research universities, we tend to be on the lower side, but not by much, and part of that can be due to location,” DePauw said. “It’s a good ratio, a good mix in my opinion, in the light that we have over 100 different countries represented. It’s worth noting that international enrollment increased at the undergrad level, also.”

This trend also likely reflects an increase in students graduating from a master’s program and going straight into another, such as a Ph.D or other higher, terminal degree.

“When economic times are not good, people tend to go back to school. That’s proven,” DePauw said.  “But, now what is happening, I think, is more undergrads are going into graduate school than into the work place right after graduation. Also, you have students who are going from one higher degree to another, or going to work and not coming back to school.”

Debra Stewart, president of the Council of Graduate Schools, says that this new trend may be related to financial stress, both on states and on individual students.

“The school systems especially are in financial stress. Teachers are no longer being provided time off to get graduate degrees, and schools are no longer funding principals to go back and get principal certificates,” Stewart said. 

DePauw, also a member of the Council of Graduate Schools, agrees. 

“The financial stress can also extend to students who have families. Other factors go into these statistics as well, such as funding options like assistantships,” DePauw said. 

There is also a looming elimination of the federal loan subsidy for graduate students, and the financial impact is anticipated to put a strain on some students who do not receive large amounts of financial aid. 

Some higher education professionals believe these numbers may be the result of a loss of prestige of the Ph.D. 

“I think the Ph.D. still has a great deal of respect, there is just more competition against Tech in trying to recruit students to go after those higher degrees at your institution,” DePauw said.

“The U.S. still has the largest enrollment in Ph. D degrees, but the overall percentage is decreasing.  We used to have about 70 percent of all Ph. D candidates and now it’s dropping into fifty percentile,” DePauw said.  “We do still have the majority.”

In May, Virginia Tech’s graduate school graduated over 2,000 master’s students and over 400 doctoral students – numbers that are the highest they’ve ever been at the school.

DePauw argues that, to stay competitive, Tech needs to look at more options for different kinds of students.  This includes options like providing family housing and newer, flexible programs.

“For some students to come here, they often have to leave their young families. It may be a part of the culture, or because of finances, but this can be a deterrent for some students to come to Blacksburg,” DePauw said. 

Family housing is also something DePauw has worked toward to try and make Tech more attractive to the “non-traditional” college student.

Nicole Johnson is a graduate student in the Higher Education Administration program at Virginia Tech and believes in family housing.

“Resident housing for students with families should be on every research institution that has graduate students and older students,” Johnson said.  “I went to the University of Iowa for undergrad, and we had student apartments available for non-traditional undegrad students (over the age of 21), graduates, students with children/families - with a nine- or 12-month leases,” Johnson said. “The apartments also keep the overall rent prices down in town.”

Further, in order to help enrollment of new students, the Graduate School offers online programs at various other campuses, such as the northern Virginia center, as well as some online courses. 

“T. Marshall Hahn changed the culture to make it a little bit more of a focus graduate education, and helped with graduate education and research and we’ve been moving in that direction, very much so, ever since,” DePauw said.

great deal of respect, there is just more competition against Tech in trying to recruit students to go after those higher degrees at your institution,” DePauw said.

“The U.S. still has the largest enrollment in Ph. D degrees, but the overall percentage is decreasing.  We used to have about 70 percent of all Ph. D candidates and now it’s dropping into 50 percentile,” DePauw said.  “We do still have the majority.”

In May, Virginia Tech’s graduate school graduated over 2,000 master’s students and over 400 doctoral students – numbers that are the highest they’ve ever been at the school.

DePauw argues that, to stay competitive, Tech needs to look at more options for different kinds of students.  This includes options like providing family housing and newer, flexible programs.

“For some students to come here, they often have to leave their young families. It may be a part of the culture, or because of finances, but this can be a deterrent for some students to come to Blacksburg,” DePauw said. 

Family housing is also something DePauw has worked toward to try and make Tech more attractive to the “non-traditional” college student.

Nicole Johnson is a graduate student in the Higher Education Administration program at Tech and believes in family housing.

“Resident housing for students with families should be on every research institution that has graduate students and older students,” Johnson said.  “I went to the University of Iowa for undergrad, and we had student apartments available for non-traditional undegrad students (over the age of 21), graduates, students with children/families with nine- or 12-month leases,” Johnson said. “The apartments also keep the overall rent prices down in town.”

Further, in order to help enrollment of new students, the Graduate School offers online programs at various other campuses, such as the northern Virginia center, as well as some online
courses. 

“T. Marshall Hahn changed the culture to make it a little bit more of a focus graduate education, and helped with graduate education and research and we’ve been moving in that direction, very much so, ever since,” DePauw said.

A version of this article appeared in the Oct 11 issue of the Collegiate Times.